Question for builders: what is actually above bungalow windows

Annemos

I have a question about late 1970's bungalows. I hope you can understand what I mean....


I think there is an internal lintel like this on mine. I saw it above the door inside and I think it must extend all along the wall above the window. 

See below for two random photos which I found of bungalows where the window sits right under the soffits, like mine, on the sloping roof wall. 

Just how are they built above that type of window? Would there be some breeze blocks along there above the window? 


The reason I am asking is regarding the fitting of a wooden curtain pole with a central bracket. Pole is 250cm long.  

I just had the walls repaired and due to the nature of the repairs, they had to use a dot and dab method and put a layer of 9mm plasterboard all across the wall and above the window. 

I believe longer screws are needed and the pole fittings need to go into something solid. 

Has anyone any comments? (Currently the pole was only fixed with red plugs, possibly pushed back a bit, but the pole is not holding. It did hold in the old days, but the curtains were lighter and there was not the overboarding.)

Thank you for any advice. 

plumb1_2

It could be steel or timber, drill a pilot hole, if steel use self tapping screws

grumbler

The lintel in your picture is for a single leaf wall. Your wall, most likely, is a cavity wall. If it's a steel lintel, it's like this -

Regardless, for any steel lintel, the vertical steel part will be inside the wall. Only if you drill up inside the window opening you can hit the steel.

stuart45

Late 70's Catnics for cavity walls were usually boot lintels like this. I preferred them to the newer ones as shown above.

If there was no brickwork above the frame, a concrete lintel would be more likely as the soffit would sit over the frame. 

Annemos

Thank you. Yes it is a cavity wall. 

My big fear is that it might be a void, where he would want to fix the central bracket. 

Pilot holes to test it does seem a good suggestion. 


I am attaching 2 photos if they help. The damaged one is due to the Subsidence cracking. 

The pole one is how it is now..... hanging on by a wing and a prayer in the middle! Working loose! I dare not draw them.

grumbler

Void is unlikely as rafters (and, possibly joist - depending on their direction)  rest on the inner skin of a cavity wall.

Annemos

Thank you very much. (I have just been googling what the joist is!) 

Annemos

This is when the ceiling was taken off to get rid of the artex. 

Do you think it could be breeze blocks behind the curtain pole? 

I just looked at a DIY site and they suggest size 10 or 12 long screws with brown rawl plug for breeze block. 



(Don't you just love Council Trees!?) 

stuart45

If that's a bay or bow window it could be a steel beam over the window. That could explain the expanded metal at the bottom for the plaster to grip to, and why you could drill into a hollow section in it, as the web would have timber stud infill.
How to plaster board a steel beam. - YouTube

Annemos

It was a straight window. But before I bought the place, the lady had a UVPC bay window fitted

stuart45

They still might have stuck in a steel beam rather than a catnic.